The best lightweight, packable travel sandals – a comparison

We’re travelling to India in a couple of months, so we’ve been figuring out what we need to pack. Sandals have been one of the major considerations. They’ve also taken us the longest time to make a decision on (apart from the backpack).

I’m going to be wearing them the whole time, so they need to be right. And for future-proofing, they need to be light enough not to notice them in my bag.

Being the lightweight geek and spreadsheet lover that I am, I began my search.

The criteria

Waterproof – As my ‘go everywhere, do everything’ sandal, they’ll need to handle a monsoon and dry almost immediately.

Wide fit – I have flat feet (I over-pronate). They’ll need to have a wide footbed to keep me comfortable.

Lightweight – As nomads living out of a backpack, weight is critical. The lower, the better.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying it’s a good idea to go walking through dark alleys with nothing on your feet. There are nasties in there, both sharp and squidgy!

Enter barefoot sandals.

They allow your foot’s natural movement. Unrestricted by structure and cushioning, your feet are still protected from danger. You land more softly because you can feel the ground beneath you (and not a super-cushioned sole). This means fewer injuries. You strengthen your arches because you use them. Your feet can splay and grip and bounce and pronate. Let them.

With these incredible benefits in mind, the next three contenders are barefoot options. I have included options from Xero Shoes and Luna Sandals here as they are available without import charges for UK customers. There are other companies such as Unshoes USA, which our American friends will find easy to source.

I’ve found a sandal that looks great around town, at the beach, or in a restaurant. It’s waterproof, incredibly packable, and lightweight. It’s much cheaper than most of the competition. It has no toe post and the straps fit comfortably and securely – no need to scrunch your toes to keep it on.

Thats a packable sandal!

Having worn them for 2 weeks non-stop around the house (it’s cold in Scotland!), I’ve fallen in love – they’re so much fun. I was going to wear them with hiking socks to cycle into the village, but Janine said I looked like a douche! The real test will come in a few weeks when we land in India. I will update this post to let you know how I get on with them in those conditions.

Other great benefits of buying from Xero Shoes

Xero Shoes are a great company. They offer a 5,000 mile warranty on everything they sell. Apparently, nobody has ever worn a pair out, which is even more amazing! Their designs are inspired by the Tarahumara – a Native American people of northwestern Mexico who are renowned for their long-distance running ability. The Tarahumara use old rubber tyres, cut to shape and strapped on!

They’re available in the UK with no import charges to pay. A lot of the companies that offer barefoot sandals are American and difficult and expensive to get hold of. Xero Shoes UK partnered with Steven and Lena at XeroShoes.com to be able to bring them to the UK as an independent reseller, providing significant cost savings. I made my order on Monday, and they arrived on Tuesday. Great service. And if you don’t get on with them after trying them on, you can return them for a refund.

If you use these links, you’ll pay the same price and get the same great service (i.e the best. They’re twice the price on Amazon). It just means I will get a small fee for the referral. This will help me to bring you more gear reviews and comparisons for your lightweight adventures.

In conclusion

I have unearthed a truth during this research; my over-pronating flat feet do not need supporting or fixing. Neither do feet with high arches. Genetic differences allow for successful feet in all shapes and sizes. When our feet are left unrestricted, they’ll do what they were designed to do; feel the ground and adjust accordingly.

There is much research into the benefits of being barefoot. It’s fascinating and I recommend looking into it. You can get an overview at runbare.com.

“Feel the Freedom. Feel the Fun. Feel the World.” (stolen from Xero Shoes)

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3 Comments

Great review and comparison of lightweight/minimalist sandals! Thank you for all the details! You just confirmed my decision to buy the Amuri Z-Trek sport sandals. The owner of the company is pretty awesome too! 🙂

So… Did you go to India yet? I’m curious to know how the Z-Trek’s performed.

Yes, we’re in India, and they’ve been awesome so far, wearing them as my sole (no pun intended, though it’s good, you have to admit!) footwear. We’ve not been in any rain yet, and not ventured into hilly terrain, but that’s coming in 2 weeks. We’ll see…